VOA and UNAOC Launch App and Game Contest

August 7, 2012

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Voice of America is partnering with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the Education Arcade, and the Learning Games Network, on a global competition aimed at developing mobile apps and games.

The contest, called Create UNAOC 2012, is now open for registration and will provide cash prizes to developers of apps and games that promote intercultural dialogue and understanding.

Submissions must be in one of the official UN languages: Arabic, English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and French. An international jury will select five finalists who will be awarded $5,000 each to complete development of a fully functional app or game.

The UNAOC says apps and games afford powerful new tools to explore the processes that enable an open and respectful exchange of views, the sharing of experiences, and the developing of better cultural understandings.

“With partners like Voice of America, with its diverse international audience, we hope to engage app and game designers and producers around the world in this important competition,” said Jordi Torrent, UNAOC Media Literacy and Education Project Manager. “Our partners are uniquely positioned to spark innovations in the ways we engage in intercultural dialogue by promoting new digital media development opportunities alongside relevant journalistic and creative content.”

“The competition will enable VOA to elevate and expand social media innovation and help us reach a potentially new, untapped audience,” says Rebecca McMenamin, VOA’s Associate Director for Language Programming.

The creative director at MIT’s Education Arcade and a co-organizer of the Create UNAOC Challenge, Scot Osterweil, says it is important to identify and bring together a rich set of resources to inspire and inform potential contributors.

“We are excited to be working with Voice of America, which ranks among the most diverse and far-reaching media companies in the world,” says Osterweil.

To take part in the challenge, visit the Create UNAOC site. You must be 13 years of age or older to enter. Submissions are being accepted until the end of November. Visit www.unaoc.org/create/partners for a list of contest sponsors.

For more information about this release contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at (202) 203-4959, or write kking@voanews.com. You can also find more information about VOA at the Public Relations website, www.insidevoa.com, or at the main English language site, www.voanews.com.